Top 10 Love Triangles
There are few narratives that can split a fandom or crowd like a well executed love triangle. The classic love triangle format is two guys, one girl and almost every entry on this list actually fits that bill. You get your viewers split into two teams, one for each guy, and your project really markets itself. Brilliant. Let’s get into some of the best love triangles ever seen on screen. As with most of my lists, my only caveat is that I have to have watched the movie for it to be eligible.
Materialists (Dakota Johnson with Chris Evans & Pedro Pascal) - The freshest love triangle on the list, this 2025 release presents itself as a rom com but is definitely much more a dramedy. We meet Lucy (Johnson), a very successful matchmaker who meets a rich, seemingly perfect man (Pascal). But their relationship is thrown when Lucy’s ex-boyfriend (Evans) reenters the picture. If you haven’t watched this film, I personally thought it was very well made by director, Celine Song.
Past Lives (Greta Lee with John Magaro & Teo Yoo) - Celine Song really has a touch for love triangles, as her 2023 directorial debut also focuses on a couple who is affected when a former flame enters the picture. The difference is that this couple, Nora & Arthur, (Lee & Magaro) is married and the former flame is a childhood friend (Yoo) who Nora always shared a connection with. The film earned several Golden Globe & Academy Award nominations.
Challengers (Zendaya with Mike Faist & Josh O’Connor) - Ah yes, the cultural phenomenon that is Challengers. The first thing I want to mention about Challengers is that it’s writer, Justin Kurtizkes, is actually married to Celine Song, which brings me a sneaking suspicion that they must have a third person involved… Anywho. Challengers is one of the few love triangles that actually features all three members being (seemingly) interested in each other, a feat shared by…
Y tu mamá también (Maribel Verdú with Gael García Bernal & Diego Luna) - Translating to ‘And your mother too’ this Spanish film also features three people who are involved with each other, making it a true triangle. The film is considered a break through for its leads as well as its director, Alfonso Cuarón, at least to an international audience. It follows two best friends who convince a slightly older woman to accompany them on a road trip, and I’ll let you guess what ensues.
Twilight (Kristen Stewart with Taylor Lautner & Robert Pattinson) - Of course Twilight is here! It is probably the most popular love triangle of all-time and is the best example of teams dividing a fandom. While I’ll admit I prefer Jacob, I am really Team Edward because he & Bella are clearly endgame. But Jacob’s ending is probably the weirdest possible choice they could have made.
The Hunger Games (Jennifer Lawrence with Liam Hemsworth & Josh Hutcherson) - I never thought as The Hunger Games as a love triangle story when I was reading the books & watching the films in my younger years. I think the reason for that is because Katniss was so apparently going to end up with Peeta. Gale was just always there. I will admit watching as an adult I can see how someone could prefer Gale, but again Katniss & Peeta are just so obvious together.
The Graduate (Dustin Hoffman with Anne Bancroft & Katharine Ross) - The only love triangle on the list that breaks our format and has a guy with two women, this love triangle is weird for a few reasons. But the main one would probably have to be that the two women involved are a mother and daughter, so yeah that’s weird.
While You Were Sleeping (Sandra Bullock with Peter Gallagher & Bill Pullman) - And now we get to another classic love triangle trope, the girl with two brothers. Oh the drama. This one has some nice twists and turns that sets it apart from others, but again it’s always clear who Lucy (Bullock) will end up with.
Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn with Humphrey Bogart & William Holden) - Okay I’ll admit I haven’t seen this 1954 film, but I have seen the 1995 remake with Julia Ormond, Harrison Ford, & Greg Kinnear, so I’ll still let it appear on the list. Another classic girl falls for one brother and then falls for another there are several references to this film in our final entry…
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Lola Tung with Christopher Briney & Gavin Casalegno) - Yes, I know I typically only include movies, but I had to include TSITP since it takes up so much of my brain space at the moment. The ultimate example of a girl being involved with two brothers, I’d love to know if your Team Conrad or a big dummy?
